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Parents' Guide to

Pitch Perfect

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Edgy, teen-friendly musical comedy uplifts with song, heart.

Movie PG-13 2012 112 minutes
Pitch Perfect Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 13+

Based on 67 parent reviews

eac58
eac58 Parent of 11 and 14-year-old
June 3, 2022
age 16+

Aimed at college students - not kids.

This is not a movie for kids - it's set at a college / University and that's the target audience. There's way too many sexual references and outdated racist / sexist / homophobic jokes throughout this film to let anyone under 16 watch, and even then I'd say only if they were intelligent enough to see the problems with it. Such a shame that most of the movie is funny but it's let down by a dozen or so bad jokes. Really not sure how it got an r13 rating.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
3 people found this helpful.
F Letcher
F Letcher Parent of 14-year-old
May 5, 2022
age 18+

Awful! Don't bother

Awful! If only they'd focussed on the music and not had all the gutter-talk, it could have been worth watching!

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
See all 67 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Beca (Anna Kendrick), an aspiring mixmaster/DJ, is a freshman at Barden University in PITCH PERFECT. Her father, a professor, won't let her drop out of college to move to Los Angeles and start her DJ-ing career without having her try college first. He ups the ante when he notices Beca spending more time in her dorm room than out on campus, attending classes and getting to know her peers. If she joins one group and gives it her all and still ends the year determined to move, he'll finance it himself. So off to the Bellas she goes; the Bellas, once an esteemed all-girl a cappella group, need new members. At the nationals the previous year, the now co-captain, Aubrey (Anna Camp), threw up onstage, ruining their chances. Then again, the Bellas have always played second fiddle to the Treblemakers, Barden's all-male group; the Bellas' repertoire is steeped in old songs, and they're stale. Beca thinks it's time to shake things up, and most everyone else agrees, but Aubrey is firmly in the skeptical camp. Can they make a comeback at this year's nationals? And can Beca keep her mind on the game when the Treblemakers' sweet and talented Jesse (Skylar Astin) is such a distraction?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (67 ):
Kids say (264 ):

It's a joy to watch a comedy like this, which wraps you up in belly laughs and catchy songs and makes whatever ails you seem far, far away. Let's take it from the top: Pitch Perfect's Kendrick is a delight. Plus, special kudos to Rebel Wilson, whose subversively awesome Fat Amy bravely reclaims a word meant to hurt her. And all of the a cappella troupes assembled here (or the voices behind them) are fantastic. Never mind that they're kitschy and earnest and seriously competitive about their craft (which, in some circles, is considered decidedly uncool). The beauty of it is they don't care; they just want to make music. Pitch Perfect hits lots of the right notes and will leave you in stitches and singing long after the credits roll.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why Beca seems so jaded when she first steps on campus in Pitch Perfect. Is her position -- that she doesn't need to be in college to pursue her dream -- defensible?

  • Fat Amy calls herself "fat" as a way to get ahead of any possible bullying and because she's proud of herself just the way she is. What do you think of this approach? (Also, talk to your kids about bullying and why it's not OK, plus how to handle it if it happens to them.)

  • Do college campuses really have this much competition among student groups? Are a cappella groups this cutthroat? What's the realistic take on this?

  • How do the characters demonstrate the importance of teamwork, perseverance, and curiosity? Why are these important character strengths?

Movie Details

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